Self-proclaimed "escape king" Nordin Ben Allal has once again escaped from the Ittre jail. His fifth jailbreak attempt, it was described as the most daring of all the prisoner's stunts.

Witnesses described that during the prisoners' exercise time, a helicopter landed in the grounds of the high-security prison, with the pilot being held at gunpoint by Ben Allal's accomplices. Ben Allal jumped into the cockpit, eager to take off.

The plan was snagged, however, when the helicopter's takeoff was marred by the weight of other prisoners trying to get in on the escape. Telegraph reported that the helicopter spun out of control and crashed.

The chaos enabled Ben Allal and his accomplice to take a warder as a hostage and, while holding him at gunpoint, forced the other officials to open the gate.

After dumping the hostage, Ben Allal and the accomplice were then able to flee in a vehicle designed to look like a police vehicle, even donning the flashing blue lights, added Telegraph.

TimesOnline reported that the men met up with a third accomplice along the way, abandoned the escape vehicle, and made off in another car. Dogs picked up the convict's scent, but eventually lost it.

Ben Allal's first escape attempt was in June 2000 while serving time for armed robbery; he was quickly apprehended. His second was two months after, with him faking an injury and then using his crutch to beat the officials during a jail transfer. His third was on January 2001, with the help of his brother, who switched clothes with him - a stunt which earned him three weeks of freedom.

The fourth involved Ben Allal cutting through two wire fences and then squeezing through several gaps that led to a 26-ft wall. He went over the wall with the help of a rope ladder, and an accomplice waiting with a getaway car.